Road Policing Unit
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[edit] Policing the UK's roads
Road Policing Unit is the modern term for the Traffic Department of UK Police Forces/Services.
RPU's work with the National Roads Policing Strategy which has five strands[1];
- casualty reduction
- counter terrorism
- anti-social use of the roads
- denying criminals the use of the roads
- public reassurance by high visibility patrolling of the road network
RPU officers are responsible for patrolling the roads throughout the force area. In addition to their general road policing duties, they assist with various operations aimed at improving road safety and are also at the forefront in tackling vehicle crime and the criminal use of the roads network.
A sub unit of the RPU is the Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) or Forensic Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Unit (FCIRU), which exists to manage the follow-up investigation into all fatal and very serious collisions. The specially trained team attends the scene of all such incidents, where, amongst other things, they take numerous measurements on the final layout of the scene and examine vehicles, all in a bid to piece together the cause of the crash.
[edit] Equipment
Some of the main tools of the RPU are;
[edit] ProVIDA
The ProViDa In Car Video System is fitted to marked and unmarked traffic patrol cars and motorcycles with the aim of improving driver behaviour and road safety. It is used to detect traffic offences and to educate, advise and, if necessary, prosecute offenders.
Components of the system;
- a colour video camera with pan and zoom control in the front and a rear facing camera in the back
- a video data generator which records date and time
- a police pilot speed detection device and speed indicator
- a mobile VHS video cassette recorder with a remote control unit
- two liquid crystal display colour monitors, one each for front and rear seat occupants
Whilst on patrol a police officer who sees an offence or an example of bad driving, can record the incident on tape. Once he has stopped the driver concerned, he can then invite the motorist to come to the police car where the incident is replayed. This should never be encouraged to ensure continuity of evidence. A motorist can request a copy of the video evidence should the matter be dealt with at Court.
Depending on the circumstances of the offence, the motorist can then be advised regarding their driving, cautioned or prosecuted, when the video recording can be used in court if necessary.
JAI PROVIDA 2000 is a sophisticated in-car video and speed enforcement system for 24 hours detection of traffic offences and criminal acts. System recordings can be used in court as visual evidence, including reconstruction of events.
[edit] VASCAR
VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer And Recorder) is a technology for determining the speed of a moving vehicle. It is used by police officers to catch speeding motorists. These devices are mounted in a patrol car’s console, allowing the officer easy access to its controls. Many main roads in the UK now have a horizontal line of about 2 feet in length painted on the carriageway, this is so the VASCAR system may be calibrated.
[edit] Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
ANPR is housed in a mobile unit and can be used anywhere within the force area. Both colour and infrared cameras are used to capture images of vehicle number plates as they pass by. The index number is read automatically and checked against a number of databases (including DVLA) held on computer.
If a match is made to a vehicle of police interest, the ANPR operator receives an alarm. The operator can then alert other officers to stop the vehicle. The process from reading the number plate to an alarm notification takes less than two seconds.
ANPR technology is available commercially and is being adopted by many businesses as a means of fighting crime such as petrol station drive-offs and credit card fraud. There are other applications such as improved security in car parks
[edit] Vehicles
A variety of vehicles are used but most commonly used are the Volvo V70 T5, Vauxhall Omega and Range Rover, together with the occasional Mercedes ML, Nissan, Toyota or other far eastern 4x4. Large vans such as the Iveco daily or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are also used at major accidents.
Each vehicle is fitted with Airwave radio communications system and the TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery system
Equipment carried by vehicles includes;
- Traffic cones (16 in 4 x 4s and 10 in estate cars)
- cone lamps
- 10 signs (consisting of 4 x accident, 2 x slow, 2 x divert arrows,1 x use hardshoulder and 1 x rejoin main carriageway)
- groundsheet
- tow ropes and shackles (4 x 4s only)
- fire extinguisher
- crowbar
- hacksaw
- axe
- broom
- shovel
- industrial gloves
- torch
- first aid kit
- resuscitation kit
- infectious diseases kit
- space blankets
- water container
- "stinger" tyre deflation unit.
[edit] Motorway Police
[edit] History of Motorway Police
Most Police Forces established traffic Departments in the early 1950s but it was with the opening of the M1 motorway in November 1959 that the need for the Police to have a specialist department dedicated to policing the new roads, the 1960s aaw the start of construction of new motorways so the Traffic Departments grew. One of the first fatal accidents on the M1 occurred near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire in December 1959.
In 1967 Alco-test equipment was introduced as a result of the 1967 Road Safety Act. VASCAR units were first fitted to Police vehicles in the mid 1970s. Traffic Officers wear a white topped patrol cap. When Traffic Departments were first set up Police officers were issued with long white coats, the first Hi Visibility coats were day-glo orange but since the late 1970s the preference has been for day-glo Saffron Yellow.
South Wales Police opened a Police Motorway section when the M4 motorway reached its area in 1977 (Its Traffic department coming into existence with its predecessor Glamorgan Constabulary in 1952).
In the South East, Hertfordshire Constabulary had organised its Traffic Department into a Division with its own callsign, the Force operated three Traffic bases and originally two traffic posts. The Force is responsible for Policing the M1 and A1(M) motorways along with the M25 motorway which was completed in 1986. Vehicles being used at this time include Vauxhall Carlton's, Ford Grandas, Ford Sierras, Ford Capri (un-marked), Jaguar and Land Rover LWB. The Division also maintained a large motorcycle unit which was responsible for training neighbouring Forces including the Metropolitan Police.
- Langley Traffic Post
- Breakspear Traffic Post
During the early 1990s the Hertford Traffic Base was closed and the Traffic Management Unit came into being. Next to close was Northern followed by Western. Gradually the RPU's replaced what was left of what had been a sizeable Traffic Division.
As a further example, Surrey Police are responsible for the policing of part of the M25, the M23 (Hooley-Pease Pottage) and the M3 (Sunbury-Hampshire Border) from a trio of traffic bases, at Godstone (M25 junction 6), Chertsey (M25 junction 11) and Burpham (near Guildford on the A3). Surrey use Volvo V70 Estates, Land Rover Discoveries and Range Rovers as their main traffic vehicles, with a variety of other types and unmarked vehicles at their disposal.
[edit] Present day
Lancashire Constabulary maintains a dedicated Traffic Base at Samlesbury near Preston on the junction of the M6 (Junction 31) and A59.
[edit] Central Motorway Police Group
The CMPG was started in 1990 by a partnership of West Midlands and West Mercia Police, they were joined in 2001 by Staffordshire and Warwickshire Forces. Each force maintains a separate RPU for non motorway work. The CMPG work closely with Highways Agency Traffic Officers (HATO's).
The CMPG is staffed by 200 officers from;
The CMPG is responsible for policing 630 miles of the motorway network in the Midlands and covers the following motorways;
- M6 (Junction 1 - 16)
- M6 Toll
- M5 (Junction 1 - 9)
- M40 (Junction 12 - M42)
- M42
- A45 and A46 (M6/M40 link)
- M69 (Warwickshire section)
- M54
- A5 (Trunk road in Staffordshire and part of Shropshire)
- M50
[edit] CMPG Patrol Bases
- Doxey Police Post, M6 near Stafford
- Wellington Police Station, Junction 7 M54 in Shropshire
- Perry Bar – CMPG headquarters
- Coleshill Police Station, Junction 4 M6 in Warwickshire
- Greys Mallory Traffic Base, Junction 14 M40 in Warwickshire
- Hindlip Hall (West Mercia headquarters), Junction 6 M5 in Worcestershire
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ operational Police officers
